Arne Slot has the backing of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk as Anfield chiefs edge closer to striking an agreement with Feyenoord over a compensation package for the Dutch boss.
Slot is in line to replace Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season and Van Dijk, who has just over one year left to run on his current contract, believes his 45-year-old compatriot would be a fine fit for the job.
Van Dijk told ViaPlay after the Reds saw their Premier League title hopes all but ended by rivals Everton : "I think Slot is one of the better Dutch coaches at the moment.
"With the way he plays and the philosophy he has, he can be a Liverpool coach. But I read and hear that it is far from complete. We shall see. We will focus on that next season, but that is still a long way off."
Liverpool saw an opening offer worth around £7.7million including bonuses rejected by Feyenoord on Wednesday morning. The Reds tabled an initial £6m upfront with a further £1.7m in performance-related bonuses but Feyenoord are believed to be holding out for a total package of £8.5m.
Furthermore, Liverpool are also facing additional challenges replacing an array of Klopp's departing backroom staff.
Slot hopes to bring his assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff with him to Merseyside while his current head of performance, Ruben Peeters, is also likely to join Liverpool, replacing Andreas Schlumberger.
However, Slot's assistant trainer John de Wolf looks likely to stay put in Holland having recently extended his contract at De Kuip and he could form part of the new-look coaching setup in Rotterdam if Slot does indeed depart.
Liverpool will also need to replace Pepijn Lijnders, goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, Peter Krawietz, fitness chief Andreas Kornmayer and nutritionist Mona Nemmer among others.
Meanwhile, Slot's agent Rafaela Pimenta is currently negotiating his contract with the Reds. Face-to-face discussions between Liverpool and the Dutch giants are expected to take place in the coming days but Feyenoord director Dennis te Kloese is understood to have been in Madrid this week on a separate business venture.
The Reds still have four games left before their season is complete as they face trips to West Ham and Aston Villa while also hosting Tottenham and Wolves at Anfield.
Klopp is believed to have had no involvement in the search for his replacement as the process is being led and driven by Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes.
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